Labor Day Putting down your wrenches or time for MORE wrenching? 
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| | | Forums66 Topics128,010 Posts1,055,299 Members48,419 | | Most Online14,466 Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 339 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 339 | What is the cap. of the steering gear box I first put in gear oil and it leaked, so I am putting in corn head grease. Would like to know how much it holds. 53 3100 standard 53 steering box. root | | | | | Joined: Jan 2016 Posts: 631 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2016 Posts: 631 | | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | The leak could be a housing gasket or could simply be caused by the use of gear oil vs the specified self-levelling grease. There is no bottom seal. Root - when you check with Tractor Supply for the corn head grease, see if they have NLGI 00 cotton picker spindle grease. It is the original specification self-levelling grease for the steering box. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 339 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 339 | Well, I just put in about a tube and 3/4 of corn head grease in gear box. Took out the bottom bolt and pumped in the grease till it came out the fill port. After driving it for a while I will check the grease level again. The JD dealer I went to did not have NLGI 00 grease. Thanks for the help. root | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Thanks for the report, root.
Now we know what to advise people when they empty/fill a steering box (two tubes).
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 3,399 Gas Pumper | | Gas Pumper Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 3,399 | I haven't found any cotton pickin NGLI 00 around here yet. Still looking. You would think in the heartland a few blocks away from Hesston Corporation you could find it easy. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | We can't easily get the NLGI 0 around here, but I hope it is available in NC farmland. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 734 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 734 | Back in the day, I betcha most pickup owners also owned tractors. Today it's probably not one or two percent. Interesting to think about. Real stats on such things probably don't exist.
Matthew 6:33 1952 Chevy 1/2-ton 3100 Late '55 235/SM420/torque tube 3.55 Dalton Highway survivor (using original 216) www.truckwithaheart.com | | | | | Joined: Jan 2016 Posts: 631 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2016 Posts: 631 | I have used 90w gear lube in the past with few issues.
I resealed the box and reassembled the box.
On this current project I just add a grease/STP/gear lube mix that just flows like cake batter at 70*.
This mix is slick as snot on your hands and is just barely pourable into the top fill port. Certainly good enough especially considering what was in there for the last 50 years. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 554 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 554 | You are probably right. However I'll bet that most tractor owners have a pickup. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,609 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,609 | Back in the day, I betcha most pickup owners also owned tractors. Today it's probably not one or two percent. Interesting to think about. Real stats on such things probably don't exist. Some still have tractors...couldn't have lifted all of the heavy truck parts on my restoration without one. | | |
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